NHL Morning Papers (Wednesday Edition): Bruins have heated practice, Lindy Ruff goes off on on the Sabres and Antropov says the Rangers are closer as a group than the Leafs

Here are the morning papers for Wednesday the 18th of March:

• The Ducks’ schedule gives the team an opportunity to stick around the playoff race with games against teams they are competing with for the eighth spot.  Is tonight’s game against Nashville the team’s last stand?
• Playing without Ilya Kovalchuk and Ron Hainsey, the Thrashers’ win streak came to an end last night in Pittsburgh.
• The Bruins had a very intense practice on Tuesday which resulted in a number of mini-altercations between players.  Claude Julien says Marc Savard is turning the puck over too much.  Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli tries to explain what is ailing the Bruins.
• Lindy Ruff apparently went off on his Sabres players after a disappointing loss at home to the Senators.  Making his first start for Buffalo, Mikael Tellqvist wasn’t the problem.
• Curtis Glencross certainly has no problem riding shotgun with Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen.  Both Robyn Regehr and Dion Phaneuf know that they have not been playing well lately.  The Flames are looking to turn things around at home.  Expect the Flames to get back to their defensive ways.
• Rod Brind’Amour isn’t thinking of hanging up the skates at the end of the season.
• They may not like it, but the Blackhawks were a part of history yesterday night.
• The Avalanche is out of the playoff chase, so that’s allowed the team to give a couple youngsters a taste of the NHL on the back-end.  Adrian Dater says the Avalanche losing the rest of the season is better for the team long-term.
• The Central Division is certainly not the pushover it once was, writes Tom Reed.  Here’s some injury news from Jackets camp.  Here are the Jackets’ probable lines for tonight’s game.
• The Stars had their chances last night, they just couldn’t finish, writes Mike Heika.  In injury news, Brad Richards really isn’t sure when he will return.
• Pavel Datsyuk took over in the third period last night and led the Wings to a 3-2 home victory over Philadelphia.  Chris Chelios would love to be playing more, but he understands the situation he’s in.
• Ales Kotalik demonstrated why he’s such a good shootout player, as he scored the shootout winner in a much needed Edmonton victory over the Blues.  Ladislav Smid returned to the lineup on Tuesday.  Edmonton now sits in a tie for seventh place in the Western Conference.
• With games meaning so much, the Panthers somehow didn’t get one shot on net in the third period against Washington yesterday and lost the game 3-0.  Bryan McCabe says last night’s performance was “unacceptable.”
• It certainly wasn’t the prettiest victory, but it was a victory nonetheless for the Wild over Colorado.
• The Habs are now seventh in the Eastern Conference after losing to the Rangers in a shootout.  Guy Carbonneau gets a chance to address the media this afternoon.  At least the Habs showed some life.
• Barry Trotz encourages his players to take some time away from the game when they have off-days.
• Mark Everson of the NY Post recaps Martin Brodeur’s historic victory last night at the Prudential Center.  Jay Greenberg of the Post says Brodeur is the last standup goalie around.  Brodeur is all about going for wins, not money.
• After last night’s imporant victory at Montreal, the Rangers sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.  The Rangers look like they mean business, writes Larry Brooks.  Coach Tortorella hates shootouts.
• Where are all the calls to trade Jason Spezza now?  The Senators won again yesterday, with defenseman Brendan Bell leading the way.
• After last night’s loss to Detroit, Flyers coach John Stevens admits his team has lots of work that needs to be done.  Danny Syvret sees more opportunity with the Flyers organization than he did with the Oilers.
• Shane Doan was clutch on Tuesday night, as the Coyotes upset the Sharks in the desert.  Meantime, netminder Josh Tordjman is getting a taste of the big leagues.
• If Evgeni Malkin was under the weather, no one would have known after his dazzling performance on Tuesday night.  Thrashers netminder Johan Hedberg looks back fondly on his time with Pittsburgh.
• San Jose stormed back to tie yesterday’s game in Phoenix, but couldn’t finish the comeback off as the Coyotes scored late in the third period to win 4-3.
• St. Louis just couldn’t crack Dwayne Roloson last night and that’s why they only came away with one point in a 2-1 shootout loss.
• The Lightning blew a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 to the Leafs in a shootout at home.  Did you know Matt Lashoff was the 20th defenseman to dress for the Bolts this season?
• A crazy comeback gave the Leafs’ snowbird fans something to get excited about in Tampa Bay on Tuesday.  John Mitchell was the shootout starM.  Nik Antorpov says the Rangers team is closer to each other than the Leafs.
• By defeating the visiting Stars on Tuesday, the Canucks have now won ten consecutive home games.  Ryan Kesler has been the team’s best player all season long, and he certainly didn’t disappoint last night.
• Monday’s loss to Atlanta was a distant memory after the Capitals’ impressive victory over Florida on Tuesday.

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